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There is a game that was very popular in the late
1970's called "Scruples."
There were questions proposed that had "...no right answers, just
what ever your attitude dictates." I must say, it was a real eye-opener.
It gave opposing players a glimpse of each other, some led by avarice,
greed, and selfishness; or just the opposite, selflessness and giving. It also gave an insight into each other's personality that should really not be shown unless you are prepared to share your darker side. Why is there such a drastic separation between the two extremes? What has happened to cause this divergence of character? And, is there a way to cultivate the ugly out and the beautiful in? These and a few more questions I hope to answer in this paper. There is a simplistic answer to the first question—sin. However, when we view this question from the perspective of the 'game' it becomes clear that this is too simplistic. The separation of the attitudes is better described as a lack of awareness to positive moral attributes versus a complete comprehension and acceptance of them. With awareness comes the knowledge of how our behavior does effect everyone around us. If we were to take a man's life, beside the fact that he is effected, we also rob a family of a father, a husband, a wage earner, and his neighbors are hit by his demise. Even those on the job with him are traumatized by this one simple act. Everyone directly (or indirectly) involved in his immediate world is or will be touched by a carelessly expended act. What has caused this character spread to exist? There are many possible excuses for it, but all of them boil down to one basic concept. How an individual is morally educated with understanding or how that education slipped over the head of others is the difference. If a person is taught to respect everyone else before himself and taught that guaranteeing the rights of others guarantees his own rights, that person will be a winner. Obviously, the opposite is also true. If that lesson never made it home, then greed, avarice, selfishness, and a host of other misbegotten ills will follow this fellow's life. There will not be anything in his character to control all the base and more animalistic instincts that are inherent in man. Scripture calls this the natural side of man. In a recent conversation I had the other day about crime, the other person told me that the two most common answers to, "Why would you not commit a crime?" was; "I would be to embarrassed if I were caught and imprisoned," or "I don't want to go to jail like a common criminal." Isn't it a shame that their first thought was not "It's wrong and immoral to commit a crime." The former answers would lead you to believe that if they would not get caught the crime would be perfectly okay. Doesn't it? There is an answer to the dilemma man is in. When confronted with a choice, what dictates the direction one will go? What causes a selfless act to flourish or a selfish act to occur? Is there a turnaround point, or is a man condemned to stay on the wrong side of the tracks, as it were? There was a tax collector, Matthew by name, that lived like there would not be a tomorrow so he was living his life to the fullest and the devil take the hindmost. It is described as riotous living, everything for today for there may not be another day. He was visited by a man that caused him to want more out of life. He saw the folly of his present way and where it was leading; and wanted to please others and not himself anymore. He did a complete turnaround and became a disciple of that man, Jesus. |
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1. What is it about Jesus in a person's life that
creates this upheaval of attitude and proclivity to change? 2. Do we just naturally become better because He is watching? I think not. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:17 , "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." When Jesus enters into person's life, it is not without considerable contemplation on the part of that person on just who Jesus is. 3. Why is He necessary to his or her existence, and above all, what Jesus accomplished for him even without his knowledge of need. |
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The law tells us what we must not do so we can
co-exist with our neighbors peacefully. The law also declares the penalty
for transgressing it. But, God's mercy pays the penalty for man and
declares man to be set free. The penalty—the blood of Jesus. If you have
read this paragraph and cannot answer the three previous questions,
I suggest you re-read this paper. However, if you can answer them,
you have the beginning of the new creature Jesus gave his life's blood
to redeem. |
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When Jesus lives fully in you, you look to Him
for your answers to life's little problems, and hypothetical problems just
can't become a problem to answer anymore. To you God's design is the
design of the past, present, and the future. It will never vary because it
can't vary. God doesn't change so His love and mercy will not either.
God's scruples are absolute and perfect.
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